A Port Talbot woman who has made a huge difference to the lives of those in her care has been recognised at a national awards ceremony.

Selomy Dampies, the Engagement and Enablement Coordinator at Llys y Seren Care Home in Port Talbot, made a such a difference just a few months into a new role that she was nominated for a top care award.

And she has now been awarded silver in the Exceptional Newcomer category at this year’s Wales Care Awards, billed as the “Oscars of social care” in a glittering ceremony at Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel.

Selomy, a former teaching assistant relocated to Wales from Reading in 2024 when her husband got a new job.

Initially working as a care worker at Llys y Seren, which is part of Pobl Group, Wales’ largest provider of housing, care and support, Selomy impressed her bosses so much with her passion for empowering people that she was successful in her application for the role of Engagement and Enablement Coordinator.

Mother to three boys aged 18, 16 and eight, Selomy has thrived in her new career, with one of her bosses saying she has an “instinctive grasp on the ideals of person-centred support and care”.

In just a few months she has introduced a number of activities and initiatives at the home – including the set up of a ‘buddy scheme’ to link residents who don’t have much contact from family, a new sewing room and exercise routines. She has also helped to raise £4,000 of funding to create a sensory room for residents and their families to use.

Selomy says her work doesn’t feel like a job. She has taken the time to fully get to know the 60 residents at Llys y Seren, making sure they have access to their favourites activities and passions including sewing, gardening and baking.

She said: “I totally love my job; caring for others comes naturally to me. It doesn’t feel like a job because I enjoy it so much and it is so rewarding.

“I love putting a smile someone’s face and helping people to enjoy their passions and getting out and about in the garden or taking them to the nearby beach.

“I enjoy learning about each person’s history, their family and their hobbies and interests and I listen to their needs. It is important to bring interests that they loved back into their lives – whether it’s gardening, sewing or baking. I am making sure we take more outdoor trips to the beach and walks to make sure that they keep moving.

“Making people feel like they are at home and around friends is so important. I want to bring joy and love to people’s lives, help them to feel at home and feel good about themselves. That level of care can make sure a difference to someone’s life.

Tony Hart, Assistant Director of Pobl Care and Support, who nominated Selomy for the award, said: “Selomy has been outstanding in what she has achieved in such a short space of time, and all of the residents of the care home absolutely love the activities and opportunities she has brought to the home as well as her infectious energy and positivity, resulting in high numbers of compliments received from residents and families regarding her work.

“Although still new to care having only worked in the sector for a few months Selomy seems to have an instinctive grasp on the ideals of person centred support and care.

“Selomy goes above and beyond in order to do something different for residents to improve their quality of life and enable individual involvement on a daily basis with seemingly tireless energy and drive.”

Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of the Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards once again shone a light on the “unsung heroes and heroines” who make a vital difference to the lives of vulnerable people across the nation.

He said: “For more than 30 years, Care Forum Wales has worked tirelessly to champion the social care sector.

“The Wales Care Awards underlines the importance of the sector – it’s the glue that binds our communities together, both socially and economically.

“Our mission has always been to be the voice of social care in Wales to stand up for the workforce and ensure their dedication is properly recognised.”

A special moment in the evening when Mair Elis Thomas, widow of the late Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, took to the stage to present one of the awards.

According to Mr Kreft it was a touching gesture that reflected Lord Elis Thomas’s long standing support for the Wales Care Award and for social care more broadly.

“Dafydd was a passionate believer in the power of the arts to enrich lives and support wellbeing and mental health,” said Mr Kreft.
“He is greatly missed, but his legacy lives on – not only through his contribution to public life as a Presiding Officer, but also through the positive impact he had on so many communities.”